Genealogy Chat

Hello all.

General question. I only dabble in family history really, ie. when I have time so it's not an every day or indeed every week event. Could anyone advise as to which site is best, (if any), to subscribe to for the most benefit as I have only ever used GR and feel like I'm not getting the most out of it.

Hope that makes sense!

Many thanks.

Well your first port of call for BMD,s is FreeBMD which as its name implies is a free site.
www.freebmd.org.uk..

You can also try Family search site which is also free.

If you have Scottish Ancestors then you need Scotlands People which is free to search but you have to pay to view and or download certs. Its very reasonably priced tho . Scottish Registration started in 1855 .

http://www.freecen.org.uk/

Volunteers are transcribing the census so coverage is not complete but always worth a look


The Scottish version
http://www.freewebs.com/mmjeffery/index.htm

if you don't want to buy a subscription, on FMP you can just buy credits

Thanks, as always.

I subscribe to ancestry and FMP but I would say ancestry is the most useful for my own personal needs...London marriages and baptisms...plus now they are adding more areas of interest

jax

Hi Talanya

I have Ancestry and FMP...they are both very good for different things (Ancestry is great for London, Liverpool and West Yorkshire, FMP has a lot of other parish transcripts and very good military records and passenger lists). Each site is being updated all the time.

You might find that your local public library/archives/LDS family history library has a subscription to Ancestry which would enable you to use it for free...if this is the case in your area and you are able to use the service, you might be better subscribing to FMP.

If you buy Family Tree Maker it usually comes with a short subscription to Ancestry which compares favourably with the cost of a normal subscription.

I'd recommend that you see if you can get a free trial for each of them and see which one you prefer...just don't forget to cancel your card for the other!

Best wishes

Kim in Hull

Thanks Kim, good advice. I just feel like I'm not getting as much out of GR as I could.

Best wishes.

Is it over a year since I last posted here? Time relly does fly.

Not had much time to research, trying to do more so I'd just like to re-post this in case anyone else has any further views please.

Many thanks.

The advice re taking a 14 day trial for the other main sites of FMP and Ancestry still apply.

As your research interests include London & Middlesex, Ancestry have a number of parish records to view. The originals are held at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA)

You could always have a 'free' tree on there, and use the search facility. If you find something you think might fit, you could ask for details on the boards ie Find Ancestors.

The same would apply to FMP.

Its always worth searching the internet for BMD + the probable area. There are many free sites with transcribed information available.

For instance, Online parish clerks (OPC) have a link for Hampshire

http://www.knightroots.co.uk/parishes.htm

Staffordshire Parish Records produces this link
http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/england/staffordshire/staffordshire_parish_registers.htm

Freebmd and Freecen have already been mentioned. Another one from the same free group in Freereg, transcribed parish records.

PS if the genealogylinks thread address has stretched the page, please say and I'll mini-url it.

Thank you...very useful information

I think the advice we gave then still applies :-D :-D

The relevance of the advice doesn't change with the passage of time

And GR's only real benefit is the help given to others by its paying members - a fact which also doesn't change.